Epilogue
Mariana closed her eyes, collapsing her head back on the pillow behind her.
Edward ran a hand over her forehead, pushing her hair back. “You did it,” he whispered in her ear.
“We did it,” she said, turning her head toward him, not caring that sweat covered her brow. “Can I see him?”
“Of course,” he said, gesturing to one of the midwives to bring the baby over. She placed the tiny bundle in Mariana’s arms, and tears filled Mariana’s eyes as she stared down at her son. Finally, she looked at Edward, although she could barely see him through her blurry eyes.
“He is beautiful,” she choked out. “I can hardly believe he is here.”
“I know,” he said, shocking her by the tears that stained his own face. “Oh, Mariana, I cannot believe how strong you are.”
“Thank you for being here,” she said, gripping his hand.
“Of course,” he said, before stealing a glance over at Mariana’s midwife. “Even though I nearly wasn’t allowed in.”
“You were helpful after all,” the midwife acknowledged. “More so than most men would be.”
“You hear that?” he said to Mariana with a grin. “I am better than most men.”
She couldn’t help a small chuckle. “I already knew that.”
“What shall we call him?” she asked. “Must he also be Edward?”
“No,” Edward said, shaking his head. “How about Luis?”
“My father’s name?” she said, shocked.
“Why not?’ Edward said. “He will be carrying on both of our family’s legacies. Might as well have names from both of us.”
“I would love that,” she said with a small smile, looking down at him.
“Oh, little Luis,” she said. “Just what will you become?”
He was so tiny and innocent, yet she knew that he was destined for great things one day. He was the beginning of a long line of ancestors, who she knew would do her proud. She wouldn’t see it all, of course, but she knew that if the love she and Edward shared was any indication, they would be well served.
“He will become the duke, of course,” Edward said, running a finger gently down the baby’s arm. “But I’m sure, like us, he will be so much more than that.”
“He’s a treasure,” she said.
“Just like you are mine,” he responded, placing a kiss on her forehead and then the baby’s. “You know something?”
“What’s that?”
“The urge to chase the next adventure, the one that was always calling at me? It was not what I assumed. I thought I was chasing adventure. But what I was chasing was happiness. Happiness that you have brought me now.”
“As you have me,” she said. “Thank you for showing me the true meaning of home.”
“Thank you for being my home,” he said, softly kissing her lips again. “I love you. My treasure.”
THE END